AT WAITANGI

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 48, 15 February 1908, Page 4

AT WAITANGI

SIXTY-EIGHT YEARS A(i(l. THE TREATY. "A large marquee was erected on the lawn " —or a place corresponding to the modern lawn—"and the guests to the number of " This is not a description of a twentieth century wedding, hut an account of Hie days when Ao-te-aroa passed from the taiahas of the Maori chiefs to the sceptre of Queen Victoria. " A spacious marquee, profusely decorated with flags, Had been erected," states Brett's "Early New Zealand,'' "and at noon Captain Hobson entered the. tent, accompanied by Mr. Busby, the late Resident, the principal European inhabitants, and the heads of the English and French missions, the Government officers, and the officers of H.M.?. Herald." Tliat was on sth February. 1840—sixty-eight years ago. Captain William Hobson arrived at the Bay of Islands on 20th January, 1840. with a commission as LieutenantGovernor of a country that had yet to be secured. The natives were assembled in force on the sth February in a beautiful spot at Waitangi, and the sun sparkled upon the multitude, but it !s written that superstitious men augured evil from the conference because " Waitangi " signifies " weeping water." With the aid of Mr. H. Williams, of the Church Missionary Society, the proposed treaty was explained to the chiefs, and at once those lovers of debate raised their voices in long argument. "Send the man away; do not sign the paper," cried Rewa. who was one of the principal opposers. "If you do, you will be reduced to the condition of slaves, and be obliged to break stones for the roaJs. Your land will be taken from you, and your dignity as chiefs will be destroy- ' ed."

Five or six darkened brows nodded assent to the words of Rewa, and then came forward Xene. " You must be our ' father,'"' he said to Captain Hobson. " Von inu?t not allow us to become slaves. You must preserve our customs, and never permit our lands to be wrested from us.'' There is one very quaint passage in Governor Hooson's account of this preliminary torero. "One or two other chiefs, who were favourable," he wrote, '"followed in the same strain as Xene, and one reproached a noisy fellow named Kitiki. of the adverse party, with having spoken rudely to me. Kitiki, stung by the remark, sprang forward, and shook me violently by the hand, and I received the salute apparently with equal ardour. This occasioned "anion;* the natives a general expression of applause, and a loud cheer from the Europeans, in which the natives joined, and thus the business of the meeting closed." That calm, cool, "apparently" raises a smile in IAOB. The' Kitiki incident did much for Governor Hobson—apparently. Next day '• the treaty wat> signed id due form by forty-six "head chiefs, in the presence of at least five hundred of inferior degree." Governor Hobson's own signature seems to imply that the tensene<« of the situation was felt by him. Hie "\V. Hobson" is legible, but that is the best that can be said for it: the writing jjjj^^^jj^" -Fnquenth-. ttie treaty of Waitangt," hat fieldom'are the three main articles quote<L Here they are for Maori iud pakeha alike to judge whether faith has been kept on both sides:

Artkle T.—The chief* of the Confederation of the United Tribes nf Xew Zealand, and the separate and independent chiets who hav/not l>e. come members of the confederation, cede to Her .Majesty the Queen of England, absolutely and without reserve, all the rights and powers of sovereignty which the said confederation or individual chiefs respectively exercise or possess over their respective territories. Article ll.—Her Majesty*" ihe Queen of England confirms and guarantees to the'chiefs and tribes if New Zealand, and to the res]>ectiie families and individuals thereof, the full, exclusive, and undisputed possession of their lands and esUkZf' forests, fisheries, and rn ' •**.'*;. collectively possess, so long ;i's •**#"•* their wish and desire to retain the same in their possession; but the chiefs of the United Tribes and the individual chiefs yield to Her .Majesty the exclusive right of preemption over such lands as the proprietors thereof may be disused jo alienate, at such prices as may l>c agreed upon between the respective proprietors and persons appointed by Her Majesty to treat with thsm in that behalf. Article 111.—rn consideration thereof Her Majesty the Queen of England extends to the natives of New Zealand her royal protection. and imparts to them all the rights and'privileges of British subjects.